Behavioral Psychology / Psicología Conductua (BP) is published by IMR Press from Volume 33 Issue 1 (2025). Previous articles were published by another publisher under the hybrid model (CC-BY-NC license or on a subscription basis), and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement.
, Manuel Gámez-Guadix 21 Universidad de Deusto, España
2 Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, España
*Correspondencia: Erika Borrajo, Universidad de Deusto, Dpto. de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamiento Psicológico, Apdo. 1 48080 Bilbao (España).
E-mail: borrajo.erika@deusto.es
Abstract
Although the study of cyber dating abuse has increased in recent years, there is still limited knowledge about the variables associated with victimization in these behaviors. This study has two objectives: (1) to analyze the relationship of the main forms of online victimization of cyber dating abuse (control and direct aggression, and the interaction between them) with depression, anxiety and dyadic adjustment; and (2) to study the moderating role of sex in these relationships. The sample consisted of 782 youths between 18 and 30 years. The results showed that online victimization is related to both higher levels of depression and anxiety as well as to a worse dyadic adjustment. Furthermore, the relationship between depression and anxiety with direct aggression was moderated by control. Sex, in turn, moderated the relationship between direct aggression and dyadic adjustment. These findings have important implications for prevention and intervention on cyber dating abuse.
Keywords
- online abuse
- victimization
- young
- control
- direct aggression